Rosie Mendez: “The First Amendment is Our Permit”

I just noticed the April e-newsletter of my council member Rosie Mendez in my inbox. It reports that Mendez introduced an excellent piece of legislation that would override the parade permit rules adopted by the NYPD a year ago requiring any group of 50 or more to obtain a permit. Currently, anyone in such a group without a permit is subject to arrest. And she’s using some very familiar language:

“Groups wishing to assemble and stay within the limits of the law should not be required to obtain a permit; the First Amendment is our permit” stated Council Member Mendez.

Now where have I heard that before? Oh yeah, I said it in 2004. But that’s cool. Now if only Rosie could take that same attitude toward the Second Amendment and gun permits.